Creative and enthusiastic minds with a flair for enhancing spaces that reflect a mix of their imagination alongside a client s personality, needs and desires. Davie Residence BY ALENE WORKMAN / P: 116 111
Alene Workman Interior Design DESIGN FIRM USES EXPERTISE IN FINE ART TOWARD CREATING UNIQUE, FUNCTIONAL SPACES by David Hudnall Alene Workman has two degrees: one in art, and one in interior design. Once I realized I wasn t an artist, I went back and got my interior design degree, she says. At Alene Workman Interior Design, the full-service firm she helms in Hollywood, FL, she aims to bridge the gap between those two passions. I try to combine a classical, fine-art background with more formal structural training, and create a blend of form and style and vision, Workman says. The firm -- which works primarily in Florida, but has traveled to Michigan, Ohio, Nevada and South Carolina for various projects over the years -- specializes in luxury residential work on new construction projects and large-scale renovations. Workman founded it 25 years ago, after a stint with a hospitality design firm that focused on hotels and high-end residential work. I got my feet wet with a good firm that took on an array of different kinds of projects, she says. It helped me learn the business. Workman s extensive knowledge of the industry can be witnessed in a project she designed for an entrepreneur-inventor-creator. The Bear s Club residence combines South Florida modern luxury with zen textures of the Far East (where the owner has traveled extensively). Many of his most success- 01 Varying tones of tan and chocolate brown complete the Davie Residence's living room. 02 Natural elements, including a variety of plants and neutral tones, are seen throughout the home. 01 PHOTOS: CAROLINE WATKINS 118 FALL 2012
NAME OF DESIGNERS SECTION Davie Residence Completed: 2007 Location: South Florida Bear's Club Residence Completed: 2003 Location: South Florida aleneworkman.com Davie Residence Workman s firm was called in after an architect expanded this South Florida property from 3,500 square feet to 8,000 square feet. The house was originally supposed to be a temporary home for the clients, but in the process they decided to upscale the finishes and live here as their main home, Workman says. The dining room and family room had been conceived as one large space, and Workman felt it called for some definition. We added a buffet between them that rises up to the ceiling, she says. It visually opened up the space and created an interesting flow without closing it down. The master bath, with its criss-crossed, marbleand-granite detailing, was completely customdesigned, as was the powder room. These clients are high-profile people with vibrant personalities who wanted a space that was relaxing for their family and for private gatherings. A sort of retreat that would reflect where they are in their lives. Hopefully we accomplished that. 119
03 04 05 03 Wooden cabinetry mixes with the metallic accents of the kitchen. 04 Intriguing artwork pulls one's eye into the dining area. 05 A home theater satisfies the homeowners' love for entertainment. PHOTOS: CAROLINE WATKINS 120 FALL 2012
06 I try to combine a classical, fine-art background with more formal structural training, and create a blend of form and style and vision. ALENE WORKMAN, OWNER 06 Elegant draperies from Sutton and a LaJeune king-size bed provide warmth to the master bedroom. 07 A minimalist aesthetic creates a peaceful atmosphere in the bathroom. 07 ful products were created in Asia, and he wanted his new home to reflect the clean, contemporary tones he d experienced while over there, Workman says. There s a slight touch of Balinese aesthetic. It s very understated but beautiful and functional. Many of the rooms open up to the back of the house -- the family room, the breakfast room, the kitchen all bleed into this outdoor area this magnificently landscaped area with a beautiful pool and levels going down toward the water. We tried to keep an eye toward cultivating an indoor-outdoor lifestyle to accompany that. An interesting quirk was that the client desired a television in every room, which, for purposes of aesthetic, required an eye for creative concealing. One is hidden in the sitting area of the master bath, one is concealed behind woven leather panels that hinge and open out to reveal the TV monitor, Workman says. We created a motorized system where a stainless steel panel pulls out and moves up with the press of a button to reveal the TV. After working on a large project that won attention and awards, Workman saw an opportunity to strike out on her own. Her first job, a new construction 121
08 09 08 A screen wall allows light to flow into the den of the Bear's Club Residence. 09 The living room features an Edward Fields area rug and Holly Hunt sofas. 10 Upholstered panels from Brambier's and an Edward Fields area rug are set in neutral tones to contrast the dark color of the Westgate Cabinets that line the wall. 11 The den has a built-in bookshlelf and plentiful seating. PHOTOS: CAROLINE WATKINS 122 FALL 2012
10 11 Bear s Club Residence Workman s firm created all the ceiling designs, lighted coves, soft uplighting and details on the woodwork, bases and capitals for the Florida home. The company selected materials for the floor patterning at the entry, which is made from limestone slate marble granite. The company also designed the staircase and handrail, which were constructed from limestone and mahogany. Also included in the interior design are pieces provided by Dakota Jackson chairs (dakotajackson.com), Christian Liaigre furniture (christian- (ingo-maurer.com) that floats over the Wendell Castle-designed breakfast table (wendellcastlecollection.com). There s probably only seven of those chandeliers in the world, Workman says. And one is at the MOMA. project in Florida, was published, and she ended up receiving the first of many design awards. At the ceremony, she was approached by the president of the Florida South ASID chapter. It got me thinking about giving back to the industry, she says. Volunteerism became a parallel to her rise in the interior design world. Workman eventually became president of the Florida South chapter, and was later elected to the ASID national board and served as vice president. Today, she is a national media spokesperson for ASID and she is routinely quoted in publications like the Wall Street Journal, the Baltimore Sun and the New York Times. Such active professionalism has not hindered the firm creatively. A glance through Workman s portfolio confirms her imaginative design worldview. I think the study of art and painting and drawing and sculpture and even studying art and architecture history it gives you a sensitivity to looking at things in many different ways, Workman says. You take all those elements and it allows you to look at design in a more expansive way than just the study of an interior and walls and ceiling and floor. And lighting -- some of the great artists used light amazingly well in their paintings. It s made me appreciate and think about lighting and interior space, which will fall flat unless it s well lit. You end up thinking about times of day and exposure, or beach lighting versus apartment lighting in a city. Having a kind of artistic awareness can really open up your sensibilities. IM Interior Decoration, a company passionate about design, style, color, & quality of our products. We supply all FF & E for the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi & many others. IM Interior Decoration, LLC PO Box 29503 Dubai, UAE Tel: 971-4-3989068 Fax: 971-4-3989058 info.imi@im-kw.com